The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched a large-scale tree planting campaign aimed at promoting environmental sustainability across the nine oil-producing states in the Niger Delta. The initiative, unveiled on Sunday during a multi-stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, targets Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers states.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Environment Protection and Control at the NDDC emphasized that the campaign is a strategic response to years of environmental degradation, pollution, and unchecked deforestation in the region. He noted that communities in the Niger Delta have long suffered from the ecological consequences of oil exploration and industrial activities, leading to poor air and water quality, loss of biodiversity, and declining health standards.
The tree planting initiative is designed to restore degraded lands, reduce the region’s carbon footprint, and reintroduce native tree species that support the local ecosystem. By absorbing carbon dioxide and improving air quality, the trees are expected to play a vital role in the fight against climate change, while also serving as windbreaks, preventing soil erosion, and improving agricultural productivity.
In addition to its environmental goals, the campaign also seeks to foster community ownership and participation. The NDDC is engaging local communities, youth groups, environmental activists, and civil society organisations to drive the campaign at the grassroots level. According to the director, this collaborative approach will help to instill a culture of environmental responsibility and ensure the sustainability of the project.
He further stressed that the commission will prioritize both urban and suburban areas to ensure that the benefits of the programme reach a broad segment of the population. Schools, marketplaces, residential neighborhoods, and riverbanks are among the locations earmarked for immediate intervention.
The campaign also aims to serve as an educational tool, with plans to include awareness programmes on the importance of trees, environmental conservation, and climate resilience. The commission believes that long-term change will come from not only planting trees but also educating future generations on the value of protecting their environment.
In his closing remarks, the director reiterated the NDDC’s commitment to environmental justice and sustainable development. He called on individuals, private sector players, and local governments to take ownership of the initiative, noting that only through collective action can the region overcome its environmental challenges and secure a greener, healthier future for its people.
